Yesterday, in the souk in Fes, we each bought
ourselves a jellaba, a traditional long Moroccan cloak with a hood. We had had a
tour of a cloth stall where they were spinning yarn and weaving magnificent
cloths in a multitude of colours, many interwoven with gold and silver
thread.

After having chosen the jellabas came the price and the
bargaining. First the trader quoted a price which I dismissed and
expressed no interest in the purchase. Then he asked me to give my top
price so I pitched in at 40% of his asking price. He expressed absolute
horror and said "where did you learn to bargain - you're not a Berber!" We
eventually settled at 55% of his asking price - I must be losing my grip after
13 years away from the Middle East!